A 'popular and valued' firefighter died after falling over railings into a river after a work night out in what a coroner has ruled was a tragic accident.
Daniel Lee, 41, known as Dan, from Salford, who had been out in the city centre with colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) vanished after leaving Mojos bar in the early hours of Monday, August 22 last year sparking a frantic search.
His body was very sadly discovered in the River Irwell by a passer-by three days later. An inquest into his death was heard at Manchester West Coroner's Court in Bolton last week.
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A coroner said CCTV footage from a building next to the river showed a man believed to be Mr Lee fall over some railings into the water 'from a height' attempting to grab a tree or some shrubs as he fell.
He suffered 'unsurvivable injuries' with a post-mortem concluding his cause of death was 'multiple injuries and drowning.'
Detailing the circumstances of the death on Mr Lee's Record of Inquest, Area Coroner Alan Walsh says: "On the 21st August 2022 the deceased went into Manchester City Centre for a social event with work colleagues from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
"He left Mojos Bar on Bridge Street, Manchester at 01:11 hours on the 22nd August 2022 having consumed a quantity of alcohol and he was seen to walk or run into Smithy Lane, Manchester towards Parsonage Gardens, Manchester.
"A man, believed to be the deceased, was seen on CCTV recovered from the Dandara building, which is adjacent to the River Irwell, to fall over some railings into the River Irwell. The fall was a fall from a height into the river and he was seen to attempt to grab a tree or some shrubs during the course of the fall.
"He suffered unsurvivable injuries during the fall into the river and his body was found by a passerby in the River Irwell, Salford on the 25th August 2022, 3 days after he was last seen alive." Mr Walsh recorded a conclusion that Mr Lee's death was an accident.
After his disappearance, Mr Lee's family said it was 'completely out of character' for him not to return home and put out an emotional appeal on his daughter’s sixth birthday as members of the public joined the emergency services in the search for him.
Mr Lee, who was previously a Royal Marine commando, worked for GMFRS for 16 years rising through the ranks to become a watch manager. The M.E.N previously reported that he leaves behind his devastated fiancée Simone and two children and two step-children.
Following the confirmation of his death an array of floral tributes were left outside Agecroft Fire Station where he was a Watch Manager for the Green Watch.
Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said: "Everyone at GMFRS is shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely death of our colleague Watch Manager Dan Lee. Our thoughts are with Dan's family and friends, as they have been over the past few days as the search for him has taken place.
"This is a tragic end to a very difficult week and not the outcome we all so desperately hoped for. On behalf of GMFRS, I want to thank GMP for their efforts in the search for Dan, as well as colleagues from across GMFRS and residents and partners from across our city region who have supported the search.
"Dan, who served with GMFRS for 16 years, was a popular and valued member of our GMFRS family and he will be greatly missed."
Colleagues raised over £20,000 to support his family in wake of the tragedy. And Swinton in Salford came to a standstill for his funeral with more than 100 firefighters providing a guard of honour as his coffin arrived, bedecked in the union flag atop an aerial fire appliance. Members of his former army regiment were also present.
At the service CFO Russel described Mr Lee as a “strong, disciplined, a quick learner, practically minded, a great team player – with a big heart.” He said he was a “natural fit for the role of a firefighter and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service was very lucky to have Dan.”
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